Louis Jordan

A while back I was given a pile of old sheet music. One of the sheets was Louis Jordan’s “Is you is or is you ain’t ma baby”.

 I’m a fan of Louis Jordan, so I was excited to have this sheet music. I can’t remember when I first heard this song, but I remember seeing it in the  Tom and Jerry cartoon “Solid Seranade” (1946), but the song has a longer history.  (Had to replace the video. First one was removed from Youtube)

 

 It was recorded in 1944 by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five and featured in the Movie “Follow the Boys”.  Here's a clip from the movie.

Louis Jordan had a number of hits during his career, and is one of the people whose name comes up in the discussion of “who invented rock and roll”, His music had the attitude  and the sound of early rock and roll.
His music is still around, in 1981, Joe Jackson put out an album (Jumpin’ Jive) which included some Louis Jordan songs, and more recently (1999), B.B. King released a cd of Louis Jordan songs. (Let the Good Times Roll )

If you're interested in Louis Jordan and his music, do yourself a favor and pick up some of his music.
While you're at it, check out this website about him.

If you need more, check out this book.